Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops deadline is Jan. 31

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds specialty crop producers to apply for assistance for food safety certification expenses.

The deadline to apply for the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program for 2024 expenses is Jan. 31.

FSCSC covers a percentage of a specialty crop operation’s cost to obtain or renew its on-farm food safety certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.

“Specialty crop producers should act quickly to make an appointment to apply,” said Zach Ducheneaux, USDA’s Farm Service Agency administrator.

“Specialty crop producers have been impacted by higher marketing and handling costs due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs, as well as increased costs to meet regulatory requirements. This program will help producers overcome the financial challenges they’re facing when it comes to maintaining and expanding markets.”

Eligible FSCSC applicants must be a specialty crop operation, meet the definition of a small or medium-size business and have paid eligible expenses related to certification.

A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold by the applicant during the three-year period preceding the program year of no more than $500,000.

A medium size business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the three-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001, but no more than $1 million.

Specialty crop operations can receive the following cost assistance:

• Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.

• Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.

• Food safety certification.

• Certification upload fees.

• Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.

• Training.

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category. Details about payment rates and limitations, as well as additional program details and application forms, are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.